Leeds’ Victoria Gate Casino recieves 1,000 job applications as croupier recruits start training

Since Victoria Gate Casino was unveiled three months ago, more than 1,000 people have applied for jobs at the venue.

Now, the first wave of employees have been appointed and enrolled in training programmes.

Around 35 new employees have now embarked on one of three, six-week ‘Casino School’ courses in the city prior to the VIP opening of the super casino early next year.

All are from the Leeds area, with half falling into the NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) category, demonstrating the company’s pledge to source at least 90% of employees from within the region.

New casino employees enrolled onto the National Gaming Academy courses, which are being run by staff from Blackpool and The Fylde College and taking place opposite the new Victoria Gate Casino, will finish with a Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Gambling Operations.

The 180-hour course covers three main games: roulette, blackjack, and poker, as well as gambling legislation, social responsibility, customer service, health and safety, and odds-based mathematics.

Teaching is carried out in person and via the e-learning portal, Moodle, with regular video assessment to test knowledge.

The venue will generate a total of 205 full-time jobs across a variety of roles including gaming, waiting and bar staff, to chefs, cashiers, greeters, security and administrative staff.

Patrick Noakes, venue director at Victoria Gate Casino, said: “We are building a best-of-class venue that covers not just gaming, but dining and entertainment, big game sports action as well as corporate hospitality.

“As such, we want to build the leading leisure team in the city and give them the very best training – they are learning a real craft, so wherever possible we want to back that up with a professional qualification.

“The demand for career information in the last few months has been incredible both from people in existing hospitality and gaming roles, to those in education and those not currently on the employment ladder.

“We are selecting carefully to secure an enthusiastic and diverse group of colleagues who will give a warm Leeds welcome to our customers and provide a superior level of service.”

Colleen McLaughlin, manager of the National Gaming Academy at Blackpool and The Fylde College, added: “Becoming a croupier takes hard work and dedication. It’s more challenging than most people might think and the new recruits are incredibly enthusiastic and determined.

“We were delighted to be asked to provide training for croupiers for such a high quality new entertainment complex in Leeds and I know they will help create an unforgettable experience for everyone visiting the casino.”

With a capacity of 1,400, Victoria Gate Casino will be one of the biggest entertainment venues in the city. As well as gaming, which includes a 150-player poker room, 24 live gaming tables, 140 slot machines and 75 electronic gaming terminals, the casino will have wall-to-wall screens for watching sport, a restaurant, function space and two bars.

The entertainment and gaming destination, which is the first and only ‘super casino’ in the north, occupies 50,000 sq ft and sits alongside John Lewis at the top of the city’s new Victoria Gate development.

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